Mobile travel for the not-so rich and famous

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Crowds of travelers wait in line at the Ben Gurion International Airport before the Passover holiday in 2011 (photo credit: Yossi Zaliger/Flash90)

Passover is right around the corner. Are you ready to travel like a mobile mogul? Let’s get ready to use the best modern tech to improve your trip.

Your Mobile Travel Kit:

Smartphone and tablet

Tablet cover, smartphone cover is optional

Chargers for both

External battery pack

Charge your tablet and smartphone before you head to the airport. Give them both a “booster charge” while you’re packing and getting ready to head out. Find a good place in your carry-on bag for your mobile devices and accessories. The goal is to be able to pull them out without looking.

What About Passwords?

What about your password list? Let’s start off with what not to do. Don’t upload your password list to Dropbox or Google Drive. Don’t even think of emailing it. I find that I need my banking and evening social network passwords while on the road. For my last trip, I printed out a short list and put it in my wallet. A piece of paper is a lot safer than going digital. Eventually you have to take some risks; choose them wisely.

Download Articles Ahead of Time

A few days before I fly, I like to visit Google Play (or the App Store for iOS users) and check out the latest new apps. Flipboard is a great news reader – you can download articles before you leave and then read them on the flight or airport without needing a wifi connection. Flights are great for reading light material. I’m all “politics’ed out” the past few years. Especially when I travel, I’m more likely to download articles about music, gaming and lifestyle than the left vs right schtick.

What about apps? Skype is a useful app for video conferencing on the road. I like using Facebook to keep in touch with friends. I use GoDaddy’s mail app for personal and Gmail for work. I store my flight itinerary and other non-critical documents on Dropbox.

Gaming on the Road

I love playing games on my tablet while on the road – in airports and late at night. Arcane Legends is my favorite MMO. It’s free and within minutes I can get immersed in multi-player action. NBA Jam, ported from the past, is a fun time killer which doesn’t require wifi. If you’re old enough to remember the video game arcades of the 1980’s, try Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace. I never had enough quarters to finish them as a kid. The mobile versions of both are easier. Dragon’s Lair was the first ever laser disc game; no pixels and a lot of features that set the stage for today’s console games. There are even mobile versions of the Grand Theft Auto games. I bought GTA 3 for a few dollars. That’s the best thing about mobile games – even when they do cost money, it’s usually $1-$5.

Spare Smartphone Juice

Have you ever heard of the “external battery pack?” You charge it, and can charge your smartphone or tablet while on the road. The energy they store is measured in mAh – milliamp hours. You want one with at least 6000 mAh so you can charge your smartphone twice or your tablet once. They cost about 200-300 shekels. It’s the kind of thing you buy once and it lasts for years. On my last trip to Florida, I used mine to charge my smartphone while on the flight. It’s nice to land with juice in the phone!

Finally, the most important mobile travel tip. Don’t forget to remove your headphones, turn off your tablet and interact with those around you while traveling!

Kenny Sahr is a startup marketing executive. His first startup, founded in 1996, was featured in Time Magazine and on 60 Minutes. Kenny moved to Israel from Miami, Florida. In his spare time, he is an avid music collector and traveler.